The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-11
CRUSHED BY FALLING WALLS
Three st. Louis Firemen Instantly
Killed and Several Others Injured.
The Weber Wagon Works Ignited by Prai-
RE Fire and Totally Observation-Disclosures
Loss at Greencastle-Other Fires.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 10-The most terrible acct
dent that has befallen the fire department in its
history occurred this morning about o'clock
The walls of the ruins of Bishop & Spears pea
nut warehouse $40 and 5l2 North Second street,
fell at that hour and carried with them a por-
ton of j. Alkire & Co.'S wholesale grocery
house. Nos. 514 and SIG. In the ruins were
buried number of fremen, two of whom were
taken out dead. Another is buried beneath the
debris and beyond all probability dead. spec
tator is dying at the city hospital and several fire.
men their homes at the englne-houses.
suffering from injuries. number or
hremen were engaged around truck No. 6, rails
ing ladders to get water the smoldering pea
nuts, when all at once the east and west walls
of Bishop & Spears building wavered and
crashed Then down came the north wall, with
portion of Aikires south wall, tearing out Al
kire's south side right in the middle. As the
middle and north walls came down the front of
the peanut warehouse fell out and the extra
pressure from the side walls forced the debris
out into the street There was a great
cloud of smoke and dust from the burning pea
nuts. In the crash the fremen went down
without a cry. quick was the collapse. When
the first shock was over 1t was found that all
the firemen had escaped except Mckernan and
Mcdonald Hosll, Feldtman. Mat before and
VIM. Zimmerman In few seconds Mcker-
nan and Mcdonald were taken out. dead, the
life crushed out of them by the falling timbers.
The dead are: Barney McKernan, Frank Nc
Donald and Chris Hoell. The injured
James O'Brien. fatally: Jacob Feldtman. severe
ly; VIM Zimmerman, severely; Mat before.
slightly.
Nothing could be seen of Hoell, but Feldtmau.
his assistant. was taken out from the ruins with
his TIL Oh broken. Zimmerman was soon found,
with his left shoulder blade broken and his face
badly cut. spectator across the street, named
Jas O'Brien, caught by a falling iron
column and crushed against kinse las door, on
the opposite side of Second street. He
taken to the hospital and will proba bly, die
How other spectators escaped is marvellous. as
there were many people close by.
A gang of men at work to recover the body
of Hoell, which covered by the runs. The
heat intense, the air OF naturally very
hot day was suDerheated by smo lderlng pea
nuts, which made n large part of the debris.
Shortly after noon the unfortunate fireman was
found where he had been. on the third floor,
with pipe wetting down the smoldering nuts
He crushed almost beyond recognition.
The dead fremen were all men of note in their
profession. Chris Hoel originated the Pom
pier corps and invented the belt and scaling lad
der.
The fire which resulted so disastrously
discovered at lao o'clock this morning IN Bishop
& Spears peanut and pecan warehouse. The
first and second floors occupied by the
Deere Mansur Manufacturing Company. The
building was owned by the Choteau estate. and
is a total ruin. Loss, $50. 900: fully insured
Bishop & Spears loss is 500 900: fully insured.
Deere Mansur Manufacturing Company's loss is
$25. 900; insured for 600. The Alkire Gro
Gerry Company and Hargadine. McKittrick & Co s
dry goods warehouse. adjoining the burned
building. were not injured by fire, but were al
most completely wrecked by the falling walls
cupied by the Alkire Grocery Com
pany. His loss ia 5000 The Alkire
Grocery Company estimate their loss at $40.-
600: fully insured. MIR. Hargadne that
their loss will reach $4,000; fully insured.
Chas. Holman owns this building and places his
loss at $12 O00 fully insured. Other property in
the square suffered, the damage aggregating
probably S.. 900. The total loss will foot up
$3.50, 900; fully covered oy insurance